NYPD cancels Madison Square Garden watch party for Game 3 amid presidential security protocols

The New York Police Department has cancelled the public watch party outside Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. The decision, announced on Sunday, was made in coordination with the US Secret Service as part of enhanced security measures required for President Donald Trump’s attendance at the Monday night game.

The cancellation ends speculation regarding the popular gatherings, which have historically drawn thousands of fans to view the match on a large screen. The move distinguishes the current security posture from previous decisions, where the department had initially sought to ban all watch parties due to rowdy behaviour at unofficial events before reversing course and granting a permit for Game 1 on Wednesday.

Tensions have escalated following Friday’s Game 2, where the Knicks defeated the Spurs in San Antonio to take a 2-0 series lead. The subsequent watch party spilled into the streets surrounding the Garden, resulting in more than two dozen arrests. According to the NYPD, one woman was specifically accused of punching a police officer in the face during the incident.

While the public gathering outside the arena is now prohibited, team-sanctioned events will proceed at alternative venues. The Knicks’ website confirmed that watch parties at Wollman Rink in Central Park and at Brooklyn Bowl will go ahead, though both locations required advanced registration and were reported to be at capacity as of Sunday afternoon.

The Knicks have not appeared in the NBA Finals since 1999, when they lost to the Spurs. The franchise’s last NBA title was won in 1973, when New York defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. Public watch parties have long been a point of contention for the NYPD, even in the absence of high-profile political figures, but the addition of the President’s presence has necessitated a stricter security perimeter.